Australia’s retail sector is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by shifting consumer expectations, economic headwinds, and the relentless pace of digital innovation. While the imperative to adapt is universal, the path to digital transformation is uniquely shaped by the challenges and opportunities within each retail sector. Here, we explore how digital strategies are playing out across grocery, specialty, and big box retail in Australia—highlighting sector-specific hurdles, tailored solutions, and the proven impact of Publicis Sapient’s SPEED capabilities (Strategy, Product, Experience, Engineering, Data & AI).
Grocery retail in Australia faces the dual challenge of delivering a highly digital experience while maintaining the operational rigor required for fresh, fast-moving goods. Shoppers expect real-time inventory visibility, frictionless checkout, and flexible fulfillment options such as click-and-collect and home delivery. Yet, 76% of Australian consumers report discrepancies between online and in-store stock availability, and 80% struggle to find products in-store after researching them online. These gaps highlight the need for deep connectivity between supply chain and store, powered by unified data and agile IT systems.
A leading global retailer partnered with Publicis Sapient to scale its online grocery platform, optimize supply chain operations, and integrate digital channels into in-store experiences. The result: $1B in annual revenue from general merchandising, $500M from international grocery e-commerce, and a 35% improvement in order picking rates.
Specialty retailers in Australia must stand out in a crowded market by offering hyper-personalized experiences, social selling, and loyalty programs that drive repeat business and reduce returns. The key is leveraging data to understand customer preferences and deploying technology that enables seamless, omnichannel journeys.
Specialty retailers leveraging Publicis Sapient’s AI-driven personalization and retail media network solutions have achieved up to 17% revenue growth and significant increases in conversion rates.
Big box retailers must remove operational silos to connect data across the enterprise, ensuring inventory accuracy and meeting shopper expectations for buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS), curbside, and delivery. Modernizing legacy systems and integrating digital platforms are essential to delivering on these promises.
Publicis Sapient’s work with major big box retailers has enabled the launch of independent, omnichannel e-commerce platforms, giving them greater ownership of the customer journey and the agility to exceed evolving shopper expectations.
Publicis Sapient’s SPEED capabilities are uniquely applied to address the nuances of each retail sector:
Australian retail is being reshaped by economic uncertainty, evolving consumer expectations, and the relentless advance of technology. The winners will be those who act boldly—investing in omnichannel excellence, embedding sustainability, and harnessing the power of AI and automation to deliver truly customer-centric experiences. Publicis Sapient stands ready to help retailers in every sector turn these challenges into opportunities, leveraging deep expertise and proven methodologies to unlock the next chapter of growth and innovation.
Ready to transform your retail business? Connect with Publicis Sapient’s experts to unlock sector-specific strategies and drive measurable impact.